Only 1 Day in DL!

[everythingALICE]

So this will be my first time to DL although I have been to WDW several times. The problem is that I will only be going for one day (w/ the hopper), whereas I usually spend 7 or 8 in WDW. I read HydroGuy's sticky about first timers in DL, but am still feeling a little overwhelmed! I don't really have a good strategy of how to tour the park and don't want to feel like I missed out on a lot by wasting time.

For a little info, it will be myself and probably two or three other twenty-somethings. I definitely want to do the thrill rides (especially those that are not in WDW), but also Splash, TOT, and Toy Story Mania. I'd really like to do the Alice in Wonderland ride and maybe a couple of other "kiddie" type rides, but am not overly concerned about missing out on those. Any tips for one day trips and making the most out of the time there would be greatly appreciated!

We'll most likely be going during a weekday during the second week in June.

 

[DLR29]

I recommend this:
-Arriving very early (and buy tickets in advance so yo don't waste time in the morning)
-Starting with Fantasyland (Alice, Matterhorn, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio especially, but Pete Pan first if you want to do that)
-Also grab a Space or Indy FP
-Hop over to DCA at 10ish (or 9 if it opens then) and get a Soarin FP and sprint to TSMM at its opening.
-Ride Screamin and ToT and Soarin with FP
-Return to DL and get Splash/Indy FP and go the rest of your day.

 

[everythingALICE]

So that means that Disneyland opens earlier than California Adventure? I hadn't even realized! Thanks!

 

[DLR29]

So that means that Disneyland opens earlier than California Adventure? I hadn't even realized! Thanks!

Sometimes. Recently, they have been playing with the DCA opening times, so we're not sure what June's hours will look like. However, if it is going to be a crowded day, DL will definitely open at 8 (maybe 9 if lesser crowds). DCA will probably open at 9 based on the recent changes, but it could also open at 10. We just have to wait and see.

 

[Eeee-va]

You won't be able to do everything but I'm sure you'll be able to have a lot of fun! I'd check out one of the many "Disneyland vs WDW" comparisons to help figure out what your priorities are, make plans to do the things that appeal to you the very most, and try to fit in the rest but don't be shocked if it doesn't happen.

I am not CERTAIN Tower of Terror will have FP in June (I read something about the machines being shut off temporarily for construction). Just something you might look into as your date approaches.

(If you like the Fantasyland dark rides OK, Monsters Inc. is really cute and usually not that busy. )

If you're just running through the parks from open 'til close, I'd look into places to sit down for a while. The Animation Lobby is a spectacular place to rest, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln will work too. Aladdin is an excellent show so if you can work it in as a rest, that's great. Our Pirates of the Caribbean is so much longer than WDW's it's definitely worth doing and also a nice cool reprieve from the heat. Even if there's a line, it tends to move fast.

Thursday, 6/10 is a Grad Night, so the parks will both close early that day (likely 6 PM for DCA and 9 PM for Disneyland). Everything I've read says it WON'T reduce daytime crowds, and if that is the case, you would have no reduction of crowds but shorter hours, which is a bad combination.

If your date is flexible, though, I suggest you keep an eye on the DISboards or another website. With World of Color, I think it's technically POSSIBLE that Grad Nights might be less crowded due to World of Color presumably not playing on those nights. We really won't have any idea if that's true for MONTHS, though.

If your goal is to do as many rides as possible and you don't mind structure/"forced marches" to the next attraction, the program Ridemax (only for PCs) could be very helpful. On a four-day trip in June when we used it, I felt like we spent too much time going to the next ride and not enough time enjoying the atmosphere, but for a one-day trip it might help you quite a bit. I did have one instance of Ridemax being outright wrong (telling me to visit Tarzan's Treehouse sometime after 11 PM when it closes significantly before then--they say they have fixed that now). But for fitting in a ton of rides, it might really help you.

Have a great trip! (I did three WDW parks in 2 days and felt like I saw almost everything in Epcot and Magic Kingdom (my friend only liked thrill rides so I did miss a few things I might have done otherwise ) and a good amount of Hollywood Studios too. So I know you can see a whole lot of 2 parks in 1 day. )

 

[everythingALICE]

Thanks for all the info! I think I will be leaving on the 10th, so will probably be going between the 7th - 9th, but I hadn't even thought about Grad Nights. I'll have to study those DL maps ahead of time so I know where I'm going! You've all been super helpful!

 

[HydroGuy]

So that means that Disneyland opens earlier than California Adventure? I hadn't even realized! Thanks!

Yes. DL opens at 8AM during high season, 9AM in mid-season and 10AM low season. DCA usually opens at 10AM year round, but as DLR29 said they have been trying 9AM openings lately. No one knows if this will continue.

Also see "The Scoop on Grad Nights at DLR in May and June" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

 

[Boo Bear]

I haven't read through everyone's posts but if you're by yourself I'd try to not obtain fastpasses for the rides with single rider available. I always do Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Grizzly River Rapids and California Screamin as single rider. You just enter the exit and it's faster than using a fastpass.

 

[ktlm]

DH and I did DL/CA in one Sunday in July while I was in CA on a business trip a couple of years ago. It was an absolute blast. We went 100 miles an hour from park opening to close, and we did almost every ride in both parks, and that was with stopping to watch the Aladdin show, throwing some shopping time in, and waiting in a long line for Nemo. Definitely use the single rider line anytime it is available. TSM was brand new and we bypassed a 2 hour standby line and walked right onto the ride. Boy did we get some dirty looks when we walked out- I think people thought we were getting some kind of special treatment. We were wiped out at the end of the day, but boy was it fun.

 

[HydroGuy]

DH and I did DL/CA in one Sunday in July while I was in CA on a business trip a couple of years ago. It was an absolute blast. We went 100 miles an hour from park opening to close, and we did almost every ride in both parks, and that was with stopping to watch the Aladdin show, throwing some shopping time in, and waiting in a long line for Nemo. Definitely use the single rider line anytime it is available. TSM was brand new and we bypassed a 2 hour standby line and walked right onto the ride. Boy did we get some dirty looks when we walked out- I think people thought we were getting some kind of special treatment. We were wiped out at the end of the day, but boy was it fun.

Couple notes..

- Since you visited the SR line for TSMM has been discontinued. No SR and no FP. Bummer.

- I have to believe that you mean you rode most of the major rides in a single day. Not "almost every ride". For folks who have tried to ride every ride at the DL park (there are over 40 of them) in one day it is apparently possible in a very long day but exhausting. To add another 25+ rides from DCA to that list it is hard to believe anyone could ride most all of them.

 

[ktlm]

Couple notes..

-
- I have to believe that you mean you rode most of the major rides in a single day. Not "almost every ride". For folks who have tried to ride every ride at the DL park (there are over 40 of them) in one day it is apparently possible in a very long day but exhausting. To add another 25+ rides from DCA to that list it is hard to believe anyone could ride most all of them.

Oh no- I mean most of them. Luckily most of the lines were short that day. And yes we were VERY exhausted when we left the parks. We were there from the minute the gates opened until closing. We pretty much booked it from ride to ride. At DL, we missed Roger Rabbit (didn't even realize it was there-was mad about that one later), Small World (it was closed for rehab ); Autotopia and not really a ride, but we skipped the Tiki Room (like it, but something had to go). At CA we skipped the Mailiboomer (not my thing); and the Bugs Life kiddie rides (no kids with us). I don't think we could have done it if we had kids with us. 2 adults on their own can move pretty fast!

 

[DLR29]

Oh no- I mean most of them. Luckily most of the lines were short that day. And yes we were VERY exhausted when we left the parks. We were there from the minute the gates opened until closing. We pretty much booked it from ride to ride. At DL, we missed Roger Rabbit (didn't even realize it was there-was mad about that one later), Small World (it was closed for rehab ); Autotopia and not really a ride, but we skipped the Tiki Room (like it, but something had to go). At CA we skipped the Mailiboomer (not my thing); and the Bugs Life kiddie rides (no kids with us). I don't think we could have done it if we had kids with us. 2 adults on their own can move pretty fast!

Being skeptical here, but are you saying that you rode:

at DL: Jungle Cruise, Indy, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Splash, Pooh, Big Thunder, the boats around the Rivers of America, Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Casey Jr., King Arthur's Carousel, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Storybookland Canal boats, Alice, Mad Tea Party, Matterhorn, Gadget's Go Coaster, Buzz, Star Tours, Space, the Monorail, Astro Orbitor, Innoventions, Finding Nemo, the Main Street Vehicles, and the Disneyland Railroad

along with
at DCA: Soarin, Grizzly River Run, Tower of Terror, Monster's Inc., Screamin, Toy Story, Mickey's Fun Wheel, Mulholland Madness, Jumpin Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, King Triton's Carousel, and also watching the Aladdin show.

and that's not counting "non rides" like Sleeping Beauty's Castlewalkthrough, the 3 3D movies, Disney Animation, Redwood Creek Challenge trail, etc.

 

[ktlm]

Being skeptical here, but are you saying that you rode:

at DL: Jungle Cruise, Indy, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Splash, Pooh, Big Thunder, the boats around the Rivers of America, Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Casey Jr., King Arthur's Carousel, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Storybookland Canal boats, Alice, Mad Tea Party, Matterhorn, Gadget's Go Coaster, Buzz, Star Tours, Space, the Monorail, Astro Orbitor, Innoventions, Finding Nemo, the Main Street Vehicles, and the Disneyland Railroad

along with
at DCA: Soarin, Grizzly River Run, Tower of Terror, Monster's Inc., Screamin, Toy Story, Mickey's Fun Wheel, Mulholland Madness, Jumpin Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, King Triton's Carousel, and also watching the Aladdin show.

and that's not counting "non rides" like Sleeping Beauty's Castlewalkthrough, the 3 3D movies, Disney Animation, Redwood Creek Challenge trail, etc.

I said we did most of the RIDES. We didn't do Innovations, isn't that just a walk through? We also didn't do the Main Street Vehicles, but I really consider them more like a taxi, not a ride, although I guess technically they are a ride. As far as the boats around the River, Riverboat yes, canoes, no. (If I have to paddle, I don't think I put that in the DL ride category, plus, seems like they were closed that day, but I can't remember why). You got me on a couple. I forgot about Gadget's Go Coaster. We didn't do that. I lump that with the kiddie rides. The rest of your DL list, we did them all. At CA, I don't recall what Jumpin Jellyfish is so I guess we missed that one. the Golden Zephyr was closed (I don't know why), so we couldn't ride that one. The rest of them on your rides list, we did, except that back then Mickey's fun Wheel was the Sun Wheel. We did not slow down, we did not pass go. The only time we sat down for any length of time was when we saw Aladdin. We stopped at the Farmer's Market and had a quick California Wrap for lunch. Grabbed a quick pizza at Village Haus for dinner. We didn't take breaks, we didn't waste time. We knew we only had 1 day, and we wanted to pack in as much as we could. We were lucky that most of the rides had very short waits that day, otherwise, I would agree that it couldn't be done, because like I said we were there from the minute DL opened until the minute it closed. By the end of the day, I wasn't sure I was going to make it to the car. Definitely not for everyone, but it was really fun for us. We will be going back this year with DD and will be taking it at a much slower pace.

 

[Amommy21]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2403157

you might want to check out my trip report titled TRIP REPORT FEB 17-19

You can see what we were able to do each day in 3 long days.

When we go for only one day we do not park hop. We just do Disneyland. Although if it was my only choice/chance to see Cal Advennture I might... But it will be tricky to plan, you won't ge to do everything and in my opinion will have to run around so much you will loose the ambiance of experiencing he different lands.

 

[DizFan13]

I agree with the earlier poster that you will want to focus on what is unique to DLR, since you're a WDW vet. Also, keep in mind when you are studying the maps, in DL everything is much closer together than in the MK. It easy to look at the DL map and think it is going to take you a long time to run around collecting FP's, but you'll be surprised at how much closer the attractions are to each other. It also only takes minutes to cross from one park to another, although it can get tricky trying to get back into DL after leaving DCA if it is a busy time. Lot's of people will line up late afternoon or evening to get in for fireworks.

I hope you have a great time and get to enjoy most of the things that are special in Walt's park!

 

[everythingALICE]

Thanks for all the replies! If it were up to me, I would definitely take the time to spend a day each in DL and CA, but since I'm visiting a friend who isn't quite as Disney obsessed as me (or at all ), I need to settle for a day. This will be only my third time to California, and the first time to Southern California, so I definitely want to do CA since I don't know when I'll get the chance to come back.

All of these tips have been really helpful! Maybe I'll stick in CA while the fireworks are going on and hope for some shorter lines? HaHa. Oh, and I seriously cannot believe that TSM there does not have FP!

 

[DizFan13]

More than likely, unless you are there on a day when the hours are really extended (which they might be if WOC is open when you go) DCA will be closed by the time the fireworks are happening in DL. I think so anyway? I guess I'm not very sure about this, because we try to only go in off season, when DCA closes significanty earlier than DL.

No matter what you do or what you miss, a day spent in DLR is still better than a day spent anywhere else!!! You'll have a great time!

Best wishes!

 

[WonkaKid]

Starting with Fantasyland (Alice, Matterhorn, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio especially, but Pete Pan first if you want to do that)

Indeed. If you plan to do rides in Fantasyland, I'd suggest Peter Pan first, Matterhorn and then Alice. Those are the rides with lines that grow the quickest after the rope drop. Mr. Toad is a great ride but the lines don't usually get very long.

This is all based on my personal experience. Your mileage may vary.

Rob

 

[DisneyMomma81]

It'll be hard to visit Fantasy Land 1st thing or at all *if you don't want to wait in line* if you visit on a MM day ~ with a 1 day pass you won't have the MM *unless you're staying onsite* so even if you get there plenty early for regular park opening you'll still have MM crowds to contend with, so if you can visit on a non MM day ~ Mon Wed Fri that would be ideal.

 

[everythingALICE]

It'll be hard to visit Fantasy Land 1st thing or at all *if you don't want to wait in line* if you visit on a MM day ~ with a 1 day pass you won't have the MM *unless you're staying onsite* so even if you get there plenty early for regular park opening you'll still have MM crowds to contend with, so if you can visit on a non MM day ~ Mon Wed Fri that would be ideal.

Good to know! Maybe I will try to head there on Monday then (we will not be staying on site). I definitely want to go on Alice - since I'm somewhat infatuated with her - and Matterhorn, just since I don't really know what it is. Mr. Toad just for nostalgia's sake (since that is now Winnie the Pooh in WDW). I'm not really concerned with Peter Pan...I'm not overly impressed with it. Honestly, I could probably skip most of Fantasyland.